June 21, 2005

The Finding our Fire Project: Martin Brossman, like me, has a book in the works. His book Finding our Fire, is also a call to men. Martin says his book is for men who, "have the courage to work on themselves and have seen the value of building healthy fellowships with other men." At the heart of his book are a series of evocative and thought provoking questions that have evolved over the last 10 years of the Men's Inquiry, a support group experience for men. Taken together, these questions paint a powerful picture of an informed, aware, available, healthy, and self-loving and self-respecting man. These questions are, in fact, one really good map of the mature masculine territory. This is guidance that many men will find incredibly reassuring and helpful.

Martin hopes his book will be a resource that inspires the creation and direction of men's groups, and enhances the lives of the men involved. I continue to feel that ANY man, regardless of his preparation, can be a life giving mentor and model for a young male. However, the more of yourself you understand and accept, the more of yourself you'll have to give. Doing some of the "work" Martin is suggesting by exploring the questions he poses, will help men to better understand their core masculine value and worth. THAT will be a huge gift to both the man and the young men who are learning about manhood by watching them.

You can read about the Finding our Fire Project on it's website, or if you want to be involved in this research by responding (anonymously) to some of the questions, you can send an email to: Martin@CoachingSupport.com. It's an activity that's sure to raise your male literacy a notch or two.

June 14, 2005

Talk about what a young male on the journey to manhood should know! Awareness of the prevalence and costs of violence against women, and how is programmed into a male in our American culture would be high on my list. If you think you're "clean," check this site out.

"Men Can Stop Rape (formerly Men's Rape Prevention Project) empowers male youth and the institutions that serve them to work as allies with women in preventing rape and other forms of men's violence. Through awareness-to-action education and community organizing, we promote gender equity and build men's capacity to be strong without being violent."

June 8, 2005

I fully believe that ANY man who decides to be present for a boy, at some level, is a gift to that boy. I also believe he's doing himself a huge favor, but that's a different topic. The Men's Leadership Alliance is all about mentoring men into a more full expression of their masculine selves. Their program "... is designed to stimulate positive and dramatic shifts in the way you respond to your inner world, your partner, your family and friends, your work, your home place and the world."

I think that the better a man knows himself, and is clear about his various masculine roles, the more likely he is to acceprt some responsibility for the upcoming generations of men. He's also better equipped for that job. You don't have to be evolved, educated, or specially trained as a man to make a wonderful and positive difference in a boy's life. But the more of yourself you're in touch with, the more of you you'll have to offer.

June 3, 2005

The Men's Resource Center (MRC) is a solid and mature organization that since 1992 has been calling men to step into their non-violent power and leadership. Along with their Voice Male Magazine, MRC represents part of that fertile ground from which true "mature masculinity" is emerging.

"Voice Male, the quarterly magazine of the Men's Resource Center for Change (MRC), is a unique piublication chronicling the social transformation of masculinity. Its male positive, pro-feminist, gay-affirmative, anti-racist approach invites a range of voices promoting healthy manhood and challenging violence. Columns on fathering, youth, men of color, men who have survived abuse or neglect, gay and bisexual men, and men's health, are augmented by feature stories on a range of topics from male violence in sports to pornography's manipulation of men; from how men cope with losing their fathers to how women and men can work together for social justice and gender reconciliation."